* ISM U.S. factory prices paid index highest since May 2011* Further yield curve flattening is expected to resume (Updates market action, adds quotes)By Richard LeongNEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields rose on Thursday as some investors reduced curve-related bets that earned profits last month tied to expectations the Federal Reserve would raise short-term interest rates further due t...Read More
Feb 1 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc's board of directors has begun discussions about setting up an independent special committee to explore a combination with CBS Corp , sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Thursday.It is not yet clear if all of the directors have agreed to set up the committee, the sources cautioned. A Viacom spokesman declined to comment.(Reporting By Jessica Toonkel; Ed...Read More
Despite stock futures signaling another big sell-off ahead of the bell, the major equity benchmarks are holding their own at midday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are modestly higher, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) has clawed its way onto positive ground. In the wake of a remarkably strong January performance for stocks, traders today are weighing lackluste...Read More
(Kitco News)- While many analystshave been focused on gold’s rally against the U.S. dollar, one investment firmnoted that the yellow metal started the year with broad-based strength againstthe seven most liquid global currencies.In a reportThursday, Europe-based investment firm Insch Kintore described gold’s firsttrading month of the year as “interesting and somewhat frustrating....Read More
Chemicals specialist Huntsman Corporation (NYSE:HUN) has been trending steadily higher on the charts for nearly two years now, with the stock quadrupling in value from its February 2016 lows south of $8. However, based on a reliable buy signal that just flashed, it's not too late for traders to profit from HUN's positive price action.Specifically, after peaking at an all-time best of $36.09 in lat...Read More
(Adds stocks, updates levels)JOHANNESBURG, Feb 1 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar on Thursday, with market attention pinned on President Jacob Zuma's future, while market-heavyweight Naspers weighed on the bourse.At 1632 GMT, the rand had trimmed some earlier losses and traded at 11.8775 per dollar, 0.25 percent weaker than its New York close on Wednesday.Zuma will meet...Read More
GABORONE, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Botswana will spend 63.3 billion pula ($6.6 billion) in the fiscal year beginning April 2018, a 13.5 percent rise in government expenditure from the previous year, a budget bill seen by Reuters on Thursday showed. A total of 45 billion pula has been earmarked for recurrent expenditure with education, health, defence and security taking the lion's share, according to the...Read More
Shares in Chile's Pesquera Camanchaca SA up more than 4 pct to 60.50 pesos ($0.0101) in mid-day trading Thursday on the Santiago Stock Exchange , just ahead of an IPO slated for its Chilean salmon farming unit.** Chile's Salmones Camanchaca , the company's salmon-farming unit, to hold an IPO on the Santiago stock exchange on Friday. ** It will also issue deposit certificates (Norwegian Depositary...Read More
The World Gold Council published its gold market outlook for 2018. Will gold continue its January rally or should we expect declines?Solid gold's performance in 2017The World Gold Council begins its report with a short summary of 2017. The organization points out that gold performed relatively well, given the fact that the global economy picked up, risk assets rose in value, while the Fed hiked in...Read More
* Analysts and government expected higher growth* Russia saw recession in previous two years* Reuters poll sees GDP up 1.9 pct in 2018 (Adds background, quotes, details)By Polina Nikolskaya and Zlata GarasyutaMOSCOW, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The Russian economy grew by 1.5 percent last year, recovering from losses in previous years, but the growth was less than expected, preliminary Federal Statistics Se...Read More
(Adds union leader comment)JOHANNESBURG, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Sibanye-Stillwater said on Thursday that over 1,000 miners were stuck underground at its Beatrix gold mine in South Africa after a storm knocked out power, but they were not in danger.Spokesman James Wellsted said the miners were safe and receiving food and water. Power was being restored to the mine but there was not yet enough to bring...Read More
Fresh offthe Super Bowl, economic data is quiet in the first full week of February. Earnings season chugs on, with high-profile names like Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Snap Inc (SNAP), Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), and Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) ready for their turn in the spotlight. Dow stock Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is set to report, too. Meanwhile, JOLTS and trade data stand out on the econ...Read More
Gold & Silver Spot Gold best support for the day at 1336/35 & again longs need stops below 1332. First resistance at 1347/49 but above here could re-target 1358/60. Sell in to shorts on a bounce to 1361/65. Stop above 1370.Be ready to sell in to shorts on a break below 1331 targeting 1328/27 then 1324/23 & perhaps as far as 1318/16. Silver Spot holding above resistance at 1720/25 targ...Read More
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The Russian central bank plans to demand higher provisions from banks if they lend for merger and acquisition deals, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina told a government meeting in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Thursday. She said the central bank was currently discussing the new provisioning requirements with banks, which would allow fo...Read More
(Corrects union estimate of miners still underground to 1,000 not 1,200)JOHANNESBURG, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Sibanye-Stillwater said on Thursday that over 1,000 miners were stuck underground at its Beatrix gold mine in South Africa after a storm knocked out power, but they were not in danger.Spokesman James Wellsted said the miners were safe and receiving food and water. Power was being restored to th...Read More
(Adds numbers, political background)RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The overhaul of Brazil's social security system to reduce its burden on the government's overdrawn accounts still does not have enough support for Congressional approval, the cabinet minister in charge of political affairs said on Thursday.The pension reform bill is the cornerstone of President Michel Temer's efforts to reduce...Read More
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ:TTWO) is up 0.7% to trade at $127.37 this morning, after Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on the video game stock with a "overweight" rating and a price target of $150. The analyst in coverage noted that Take-Two's Grand Theft Auto franchise generates enviable engagement and monetization. In addition to the bullish analyst attention today, the video game...Read More
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) are both in focus today, as traders eye the latest quarterly earnings results from the two tech heavyweights. While FB is firmly higher despite a massive drop in time spent on the app, Dow component MSFT is churning around breakeven in the wake of its earnings beat.FB stock is up 3.7% to trade at $193.88,a new all-time high. In after...Read More
* Dollar bounce after Fed meeting short-lived* Greenback pares gains against yen* Euro strengthens (New throughout; updates to U.S. market open, changes byline, dateline, previously LONDON)By Stephanie KellyNEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The dollar failed to hold onto its gains against a basket of currencies on Thursday, the day after the Federal Reserve said it expected inflation to rise this year.T...Read More
By Gertrude Chavez-DreyfussNEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Bitcoin's popularity and the emergence of about 1,500 other digital coins or tokens have drawn more hackers into the red-hot cryptocurrency space, expanding opportunities for crime and fraud, cybersecurity firm Digital Shadows warned in a report on Thursday. "Cybercriminals follow the money and right now they see in the unregulated and la...Read More